Executive Director 

Miriam Larson became executive director of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center in January 2020. Previously, she worked as an elementary school librarian in the Champaign Schools. She has worked as a labor union organizer, a community technology specialist, a children's book reviewer, and a human statue. She also plays flute with several local and traveling bands including the Mean Lids.

If you have questions about grants, fundraising, office rentals, or facilities contact Miriam at [email protected]. 

Program Coordinator

Ty Lewis is a native Houstonian and moved to Urbana to obtain her Master’s Degree in Dance from UIUC in 2020. While completing her degree a course brought her to the IMC in the spring of 2022. She eventually became an intern in the fall of 2022 and went on to present her choreographic thesis Embodied Chronicles at the IMC in the spring of 2023. During her time, at the IMC, she fell in love with the community and wanted to be a part of nurturing it. Ty is now the IMC’s Program Coordinator and looks forward to planning, collaborating, and cultivating events and spaces for the community to create and activate change. Alongside her love and research in dance, choreography, and somatic practices, Ty also enjoys crafting, gardening, hikes, jam sessions, and cycling.

If you have questions about event booking, co-sponsorships, or outreach contact Ty at [email protected]. 

Administrative Associate 

Daniel is our Administrative Associate and has been with us since 2021. He moved to Urbana with his partner in 2020 so that she could pursue her Master's in Art Education at UIUC. He found the IMC while looking for local arts and social justice organizations. In his spare time, he likes playing soccer, practicing yoga, writing short stories, and going for walks with his dog Ramona. (Oil painting by Victoria Baez, 2020)

If you have questions about memberships, keys, working groups, or finances contact Daniel at [email protected]. 

Audio Coordinator & Maintenance Specialist

DJ BJ Clark attended Presentation College in South Dakota on a soccer scholarship followed by Northern State University also in South Dakota. After moving to Urbana, IL in 2008, he grew his DJ business, and in 2013, he became the Station Manager of 104.5FM WRFU. DJ BJ has helped bring local artists to the community by playing their music and interviewing them on his radio show, The Afterwork Drive Show featured on WRFU on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm. In 2021, DJ BJ became the Venue Coordinator for the UCIMC.

If you have questions about sound engineering, performance production, or facilities you can contact DJBJ at [email protected]. 
I started working for Books to Prisoners in 2017. 
Rachel became committed to supporting educational opportunities for people in custody from my study of the restorative justice movement. That led her to the UIUC's Education Justice Program at Danville Correctional Center. She helped to build their small college library and coordinated tutors and the on-site Resource Room for five years.  In 2012, for that work she received the YWCA Trailblazer Leadership Award, Danville Correctional Center's Volunteer of the Year Award and from the student body, the Inaugural Rachel Rasmussen Pillar of EJP award in 2013.
Before that she worked at, taught for, and preached in several local churches, co-taught in the Program for Intergroup Dialogue at the UIUC. She's lived in Champaign for 27 years with her husband, raised two children, many cats, a dog and native plants. She got her B.A. from Concordia College (MN), an M.Div. and Th.D. from Harvard Divinity School (MA).
Books to Prisoners contact information [email protected].